The adventures of Phyllo Dough

chickenphyllo

So I decided last week I was going to make “Turkey and Phyllo Pie” from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook. But the recipe calls for leeks, which I am sure Jeff wouldn’t eat, and also we’re not too fond of turkey. So I altered it a bit, and made it with chicken instead.

Original recipe:

2 leeks, thinly sliced
1 clove garlice, minced
1 tablespoon butter
3 slightly beaten eggs
1 10-ounce package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed/drained
1 cup shredded mozzarella (4 ounces)
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups cooked turkey
4 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Here’s what I used:

1 clove garlice, minced
1 tablespoon butter
3 slightly beaten eggs
1 10-ounce package of frozen chopped spinach, thawed/drained
1 cup shredded mozzarella (4 ounces)
2/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup cooked chicken
4 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Basically, you cook your chicken, simmer your garlic, and mix everything together sans chicken. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Then you add the chicken. Then you spread the melted butter on one sheet of phyllo dough, put it in a pie tin folded crosswise, and do the same with the other 3 so that the entire tin is covered with dough.

Then you dump in all the goodness that is your spinach cheese mixture, and fold the phyll dough towards the center. Then you stick it in the oven and let it bake for about 45 to 50 minutes. And eat. Delicious!

And…for the left over phyllo dough, you make baklava. More on that to come.

Red Cup

redcup

It’s that time of year. When you go into Starbucks and are greeted with a red cup. I don’t go to Starbucks that much, as I recently realized that No, I don’t actually like your coffee, and No, your $4 drinks aren’t worth it. However, I did end up in there this week after the Peet’s parking lot was closed and I was forced to go to Starbucks (thank you alarm clock, for lacking in your only job). And there it was. A red cup. I usually bring my own cup, but as I was running late, I failed to grab my cup. So there I was, with two options: no coffee, or red cup. In retrospect, I should have gotten iced coffee, since it was 80 degrees anyways, but I chose the red cup.

I don’t like red cup when I am sweating. Mainly because I don’t like Christmas when it’s not Christmas. I only like Christmas in the 1940s-approved time slot: from Thanksgiving to Christmas. That means that on Thanksgiving, I will be listening to “A Very Special Christmas” 1-5 and live. I will also be listening to Mr. James Taylor. And it will be splendid. But until then, I hold a strict “No Christmas” policy. Meanwhile, I’d like Starbucks to keep Christmas to themselves, and maybe supply some plain cups for those of us who like to enjoy the holiday when appropriate.

And that, folks, is what I think about red cup.

Good morning, change. How do you take your coffee?

Jason Mraz sings the song that, minus nibbling ears, sums up exactly how I feel about Barack Obama. It’s time to tell him. I’m his. Let’s get it done. I am sure I can be some help.

“Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you’re so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
Now I’m trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I’ll be giving it my bestest
And nothing’s going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it’s again my turn to win some or learn some

I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment people dance and sing
We’re just one big family
And It’s our God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved

So I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I’m sure
There’s no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I’m yours

Scooch on over closer dear
And i will nibble your ear

I’ve been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I’m be saying is there ain’t no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It’s what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

But I won’t hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I’m yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you’re free
Look into your heart and you’ll find that the sky is yours
Please don’t, please don’t, please don’t
There’s no need to complicate
Cause our time is short
This oh this this is out fate, I’m yours!”

A list of lists.

I was making my “Life to do” list I make once every two or so weeks and realized half the items on the list required their own lists. So here we go:

* Become a California resident

*Make a doctor’s appointment

*Make a list of Christmas gifts/people

*Chose a recipe for Thanksgiving turkey

*Map the oven plans for Thanksgiving day (to see who needs to have what in the oven when)

*Find an apartment

*Begin packing/tossing things from old apartment

*Figure out New Year’s Eve plans

*Send out mail

*Christmas card list — keep to under 40 people

*By “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” for book club — due Thanksgiving

*Figure out what I can do to help Prop 8 be defeated.

*Dinner this week/next week

Those that are bold need their OWN lists.

Yikes. I’d better get started.